(CNN) – Republican J.D. Hayworth is striking back at Sen. John McCain's recent negative TV ads, launching an ad of his own Wednesday declaring that the longtime Arizona senator "should be ashamed" of his actions.

"John McCain is hiding his record behind false attacks on my husband," says Hayworth's wife Mary in the new ad. "John McCain has sold out the people of Arizona on immigration, bailouts, and tax increases.

"Now John McCain has embraced character assassination to keep his job," she also says. "John McCain should be ashamed. J.D.'s not perfect, but he is a principled conservative."

The new ad – the first Hayworth has run – is the latest sign of the increasingly bitter primary fight for the Republican Senate nomination in Arizona.

The spot from Hayworth, a former congressman, comes two days after McCain launched two television ads that targeted Hayworth's past ties to a dubious company that aired infomercials promising viewers information about "hundreds of billions of dollars in government funding."

The company – National Grants Conferences – has been criticized by the attorneys general of multiple states for deceptive marketing and has an "F" rating from the Southeast Florida and Caribbean Better Business Bureau.

The McCain ads call Hayworth a "lobbyist," "pork barrel spender," and "huckster," and offer another take on Hayworth's statement: "Voters beware."

soundoff(49 Responses)

Arizona and South Carolina are tied for the most wacked lunatic Republicans. "Huckster"? Both McCain and Hayworth are clowns. I feel pity for the people of Arizona for the shame they must bring.

July 7, 2010 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |

JasonK

Character assasination of Mr. Hayworth?? J D Hayworth never returned a penny of the original bribe money, he received from Abramoff! Heck he was even fleecing his radio listeners, diverting the money he was collecting in the name of fighting illegal immigration to his own corruption defense fund.

July 7, 2010 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |

Crazy Harry

As an Arizonan, I feel embarrassed the these two goof balls are even running. McCain sold out to the wacko fringe when he selected Palin as his VP.

Hayworth is the wacko fringe. If this what people of our state want representing them, then vote for this goofball. In my opinion he is unworthy to be in any role where he is speaking or acting on behalf of others.

July 7, 2010 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

Go ahead girl and 'stand by your man'. Yet I will tell you, there is PLENTY of slime on both sides to fill a mud wrestling trough.

Can't-fly-straight-to-save-my-life McCain has lost all semblance of dignity and fair play. What little sense he may have been in posession of flew out the window never to return when he inflicted the Wasilla Hillbilly ON THE WORLD.

July 7, 2010 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |

Duck Fallas

"My husband is a scumbag, but he's a right wing scumbag, so it's OK."

July 7, 2010 01:24 pm at 1:24 pm |

hobart

>"John McCain is hiding his record behind false attacks on my husband,"

Uh, no. McCain is simply posting videos of commercials that JD himself made.

JD got paid to teach consumers how to bilk the government out of money, which is the exact opposite of being a fiscal conservative, but it's totally in line with being a Republican. To Republicans, government spending is bad, unless its going into their own pockets via the folks they work for in the private sector.

Why do Republicans hate America?

July 7, 2010 01:25 pm at 1:25 pm |

Wisconsinite - the GObP Loves Big Oil, But Hates Suffering Americans

Nice. Hayworth is hiding behind his wife. Classy guy. I really don't like McCain at all, but Hayworth is nothing but a scumbag.

July 7, 2010 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |

Rosslaw

Unfortunately, McCain should realize that his "base' considers all the insults he throws at Hayworth, no matter how true, as positive character attributes since republicans love snake oil salesmen, the more repellant the better.

Neither McCain nor Hayworth has any integrity. That's been proven over and over again.

July 7, 2010 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

ja

with all due respect , it is time McCain stepaside, there is something he can do, and pls don't run for pres again

July 7, 2010 01:33 pm at 1:33 pm |

David

Arizona is on its way to becoming the laughing-stock of America...

How sad.

July 7, 2010 01:34 pm at 1:34 pm |

Jack in Des Moines, IA

"A principaled conservative"??? He is a con man who should be in jail!!

July 7, 2010 01:39 pm at 1:39 pm |

Djinn

Poor Arizona. What a choice. Two times nothing is still nothing. Why do those people continue electing officials who have no sense?? It is sad that McCain, after much of his lifetime spent in decency, has chosen to close out his public legacy so badly. And it is more sad that someone with the total lack of social understanding like Hayworth is in a position to run for public election. Arizona, find someone with a brain!!!

July 7, 2010 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

Mesa Mick

HEY JD...Like any good grifter and con artist it's a nice touch rolling out your wife to defend you against that big, bad and mean Granpa McCain. But she forgot one thing – to mention what a good "copnservative shristian" you are. I'm suprised at that – after alll you used it earlier this year to pander for votes from the Talibangelicals.

And it's a good strategy not to have your kids make excuses for you at this point either – Save them and use them when we get closer to the primaries in AZ.

And when you do use them don't forget to have them mention what a good "family values" along with mentioning what a good "conservative christian" you are. Those Aryan nation suckers in the trailer parks in the Krackerville, AZ voting districts just lap that stuff up...

July 7, 2010 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

blue

We don't need either one. It is time for both to shut-up.

July 7, 2010 01:41 pm at 1:41 pm |

pc

i don't like either one of them but JD is the best of two evils. mccain has sold his soul to the devil just to keep his job. he is not interested in the american middle class people. mccain can not stand the fact that obama won the presidential election an is making a complete fool of himself trying to over speak to show he is more capable than obama. his little trip to pakistan is simply to show off how he would run things if only he had gotten elected.he is a bitter old man that never did a thing to seal HIS borders in the past 30 years and now raves over obama not doing his job. my question to mccain is......WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN THE PAST 30 YEARS ABOUT IMAGRATION IN YOUR OWN HOME STATE OLD MAN? mccain needs to retire because he has NO face to save with the public.

July 7, 2010 01:42 pm at 1:42 pm |

key

how funny I will never understand how anyone would want either guy to represent them.

July 7, 2010 01:48 pm at 1:48 pm |

ex-repulican since McCain picked Palin

Good, he needs to be voted out just for unleashing Sarah Palin on this country. What a disgusting thing that was just to win, my goodness, what would have happened if she was leading this Country? What a laughing stock we would be with all the other countries. Thank your lucky stars that will NEVER NEVER HAPPEN.
OK, I am ready for the childish Obama bashing like, Obozo, nobummer, socialist, nazi, etc.. How stupid that sounds, wish we had to include our ages. So so stupid. Grow up, if you don't love this America, bye, this is still the best most blessed country in all the world. Where else could you spew such undeserved hate on a man who is really trying to help us and keep his promises, open your eyes and see that the republicans are stopping him from keeping alot of his promises.

July 7, 2010 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |

Ken in NC

WOW there is as much difference between J.D.Hayworth and John McCain as day and night. One is an IDIOT and the other is an IDIOT. There is a clear difference there.

July 7, 2010 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |

Bill

"principled conservative. " Now there's and oxymoron.

July 7, 2010 02:03 pm at 2:03 pm |

Ed, Santa Fe, NM

why don't they just shoot each other and do us all a favor.....

July 7, 2010 02:03 pm at 2:03 pm |

The Other Micheal in Houston

Uh isn't John the pot calling Hayworth, the kettle, black?

July 7, 2010 02:06 pm at 2:06 pm |

Charlie in Maine

Another reason to vote for the Democrats.

July 7, 2010 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

Richard in California

I am certainly no McCain apologist, especially after the way he has been acting since he lost the 2008 elections. However, is telling the truth about someone's background and history really "character assassination"? No.

By the way, using your wife in a commercial to defend your record is a pretty pathetic attempt to tug on someone's heartstrings. Man up and defend your own record, Mr. Hayworth. Stop hiding behind your wife.